Head Start Blog

The Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework

The Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five (HSELOF, 2015) replaces the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework (HSCDELF, 2010). The new framework is designed to show the continuum of learning of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It is grounded in comprehensive research around what young children should know and be…

This is Part Two in our series about the webinar “Race and Place Matter: Head Start and CCDBG Access by Race, Ethnicity and Location.” In Part One, we examined the first of three studies explored in the webinar. That study, by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), found that low-income children’s access to…

Creating an Effective Board is all in the Bylaws (VIDEO)

Each organization should decide what is needed to be able to function well. Bylaws need to be impartial, that is, fair to all. Members play an important role in determining what the document contains; and they must be able to make changes, not on a whim, but in a manner that protects all members as…

Client Testimonial: Stark County Community Action Agency

Stark County Community Action Agency in Canton, Ohio has been a client of The Gravely Group for many years. I’ve given several trainings and have aided the agency in a variety of initiatives, from increasing parent participation to proper program governance. During that time, I’ve really gotten to know the staff and volunteers. One of…

What is the Johnson Amendment and Why Should You Care?

A blog I follow frequently is from BourceSource, which describes itself as “a national organization working to strengthen nonprofit board leadership.” Recently, the President & CEO, Anne Wallestad, penned an article titled “Why Repealing the Johnson Amendment is a Bad Idea.” Wallestad writes about her experience in 2013, when she was part of a specially-commissioned…

14 Ways to Get Encourage Parents to Volunteer

It is up to us to get parents to volunteer. That said, there are many reasons parents might not volunteer. They may not have the time, resources, or are simply too tired after a hard day’s work. Other times, they simply don’t know what to do because it may be their first time volunteering in…

Engaging Parents: Let’s Get Real

Engaging families goes beyond having a big welcome sign on the door. How welcoming is your program? Do you know what issues are families facing? Are there staff assumptions regarding parents? Are families empowered and honored? Is parental input an integral part of the program? How is information shared with families? Here are some ideas…

‘State(s) of Head Start Report’ Suggests Underfunding a Primary Reason for Differences in Quality between States

In December 2016, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers, studied differences in Head Start quality between states. What the researchers found were wide differences in program funding, quality, and coverage. So much so that only two states, Vermont and Kentucky, scored above what NIEER termed, “a research-based threshold for effective instructional…

Using Training as a Means to Increase Parent Involvement

Parent Participation is Essential The skill to manage ideas and motivate people to action is perhaps the most critical asset to any Head Start program. As we know, parent participation is essential to successful program outcomes, however, it’s not always easy to get parents involved. That’s why upfront and ongoing training, especially when it relates…

Methods of Working with Parents

I recently posted the following message on LinkedIn with some suggestions for working with parents in your program. Make sure to follow The Gravely Group on LinkedIn for more updates. SUPPORTING PARENTS Providing parents with social and emotional assistance which encourages and aids them to provide good services. Related concepts: building self-esteem and confidence, advocate,…